PAUL Berry hit a blistering unbeaten century for Oulton Park on Saturday - but it was not quite enough to ensure victory as a dogged Alvanley side hung on for a draw.

Home side Alvanley won the toss in the First Division's game of the day, and they put Oulton in to bat.

There was early joy for the home side when Mark Johnson was out for just seven, but then a magnificent stand of 172 between Berry and Greg Dimery put the visitors in command.

Dimery fell just 10 runs short of his century, but Berry went on to reach 101 not out after some splendid late hitting from himself and Steve Dublin which saw 90 runs come from the last seven overs - 29 of them off the final over.

Finishing on 280-2, Oulton fancied their chances of chalking up a victory, and things looked good for the visitors when Alvanley's penultimate wicket fell with five overs remaining.

However, the gritty final pair managed to keep their wickets intact, allowing Alvanley to finish on 137-9 and earn a draw.

Dimery followed up his fine innings with bowling figures of 4-41, while Dave Tattersall weighed in with 3-16. Andy McIlroy and John Davies were the other wicket-takers for Oulton.

The draw means that this Saturday's clash between third-placed Bramhall and second-placed Oulton will have an important bearing on the promotion race.

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